Particularly when it comes to abortion, the words we use in public debate matter
ABCAbortion has once again become a political issue in Australia. When we refer to late-term abortion as “infanticide”, as politicians and advocates have done in recent days, we wrong the women who had to have an abortion because of risk to their lives, or because continuing with a pregnancy was simply not in the best future interest of the foetus. Any quick dictionary check will tell you that “infanticide” is the crime of killing a child, usually specified as within one year since birth. Work in the philosophy of pregnancy tells us that the foetus is best described as a body part, because it relies on the pregnant woman for all its important physiological functions — extraction of oxygen, digestion, temperature regulation and waste disposal. Calling late-term abortion “infanticide” is wrong on many counts: it is deeply unsympathetic to the women who have had to make agonising and often devastating decisions at a moment of profound vulnerability, and it is frankly ignorant of the biological facts.
History of this topic
More Women Are Being Locked Up for Their Pregnancies Than Ever Before
SlateFetus can be referred to as ‘unborn human being’ in Arizona abortion measure voter pamphlet
Associated Press
Why it matters Kamala Harris isn’t afraid to say the word "abortion"
Salon
Abortion law: The movement to strip pregnant women of their rights is growing. The Supreme Court may make it much worse.
Slate
Why Abortion Is Health Care
SlateDiscover Related
Thousands Rally for Abortion Rights and Other Feminist Causes Ahead of Election Day
Associated Press
